Lost in the blizzard of cancellations wrought by the coronavirus is the impact inflicted on the individual snowflake, as Nancy Melekian, chief organizer of the Santa Barbara Orchid Show, can readily attest. For the past four months, Melekian worked on all the last-minute details needed to put this year’s orchid show — the 75th — at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The show — the oldest and biggest orchid show in the country — was scheduled to start last Friday night; Melekian would learn on Wednesday at midnight the show would not be going on.
Fifty-six groups of exhibitors were prepared to sell their wares, some coming from as far away as Peru and Ecuador. Five thousand people had purchased tickets in advance; all would have to be refunded. Another 3,000-7,000 typically buy during the show itself. To get ready, 270,000 pounds of sand was deposited, shaped, and sculpted in the domed building of Earl Warren Showgrounds. Added to that were enough trees, bushes, shrubs, and vegetation to replicate a host of ecosystems.
“All of sudden,” Melekian said, “you’re in Central America.” Except not this year.